On And Off Your Mat

For our 26th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Kia Miller. Kia is internationally renowned yoga teacher and probably one of the most well-known Kundalini teachers in the West. She teaches workshops, retreats, and several 200- and 300-hour teacher trainings every year. She eventually created Radiant Body Yoga by pulling from multiple yogic disciplines. Rooted in Tantric tradition it mixes Vinyasa Flow and Kundalini with the power of Prayer, Mantra and Meditation in a holistic approach to yoga. Today we sat down to talk about that unique and powerful style.As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a community of strong women who lift each other up, and is giving out a 75$ shop card! If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this article. The winner of our last giveaway is iTunes user MaddyRose16 T

For our 25th episode, I sat down with Janet Stone. Janet is a world renowned teacher and forever yoga student at heart. Her devotion to the practice and the study of yoga is palpable. She’s based in San Francisco and I discovered her work at the Yoga Journal Live event a couple years back. I loved her teachings right away and continued to follow her work online. She offers great programs for students that want to take the studies a little further than what we can cover in public classes. And that’s what we sat down to talk about today.As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a community of strong women who lift each other up, and is giving out a 75$ shop card! If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this article. The winner of our last giveaway is iTunes user ... Thank you for your comment. DM me on instagram or email me erika.

For our 24th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Jill Miller. Jill is the creator of the self-care fitness formats Yoga Tune Up® and The Roll Model® Method. I first discovered Jill’s work about 5 years ago while looking for a way to heal a yoga injury. What I didn’t know at that moment was the profound impact this work was going to have to my life and my health.I suffer from endometriosis, and with March being the Endometriosis Awareness Month, I wanted to do an episode about one of the strategies that helped me deal with my symptoms. As an autoimmune disease it’s strongly affected by stress. Yoga Tune Up and the Roll Model Method have really helped me get a better understanding of my stress and gave me tools to down-regulate my nervous system so in turn, pain decreased pretty drastically. So I thought it would be a great way to talk about chronic pain management.As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter

For our 23rd episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Liz Eskridge. Liz is the right hand woman of Anna Guest-Jelly, founder of Curvy Yoga, an organization that encourage body acceptance, that trains teachers and creates a safe and inclusive space for people to practice yoga no matter their size. I’ve been wanting to show the diversity that exist in the yoga world that is often less represented so I taught curvy yoga was a great place to start!As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a community of strong women who lift each other up, and is giving out a 75$ shop card! If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this article. The winner of our last giveaway is iTunes user Jenna Maryn. Thank you for your comment. DM me on instagram or email me erika.belanger@gmail.com to get your shop card

For our 22nd episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Jason Nemer. Jason co-founded and continues to grow the practice of AcroYoga. He has certified over 1000 teachers in more than 65 countries. He travels the world to share this incredible practice believing that movement and play are a great way to bring people together, and that using open communication and trust can change the world. Today we sat down to talk about his journey and the principles behind Acroyoga.We have other great guests lined up for you so make sure to subscribe to the podcast where ever you listen! If you’re in the San Francisco Bay area and you're curious about Acro, you’re in luck. I’ve partnered with AcroSF to offer you a discount on your ticket for the upcoming AcroSF festival running March 15-17. Use the code Erika at checkout to save 10%, but hurry, there are only 10 coupons available!As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you

For our 21st episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Alison Smith. Alison is a San Francisco yoga teacher. I met her in one of her workshops. Her presence when she’s teaching is kinda hypnotic. She’s warm, passionate and super knowledgeable. As a student, she made me feel seen and I connected right away with her, I felt this deep trust. If you can’t tell, I really I look up to her as a teacher. She’s been offering some very special things outside of her classes, one of them is called a yoga club and that format inspired me to invite on the podcast to talk about it.As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a community of strong women who lift each other up, and is giving out a 75$ shop card! If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this article. ABOUT OUR GUEST​​ Alison is known fo

For our 20th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Mark Stefanski and 3 teens : Adrian, Sophie and Olivia. Mark is a certified instructor for the Mindful School Program, a high school Biology teacher and the Coordinator of this Teen Mindfulness Circle. The program is based on activities developed by Mindful Schools, which are pioneers in youth mindfulness education. The Circle is co-led by teens that are experienced in Mindfulness instruction.I met with Mark and 6 teens once a week throughout fall. Together, we did mindful movements and meditations, and we connected to our breath. I offered tools to connect and live with our emotions and reduce our stress. I was amazed by their self-awareness, presence and openness. They truly inspired me and gave me hope about our future. As you take a listen, I’m sure you’ll feel the same way.Couple more things before we get started, we have another semester starting on March 5th and runing through May 7th minus 2 weeks in April. We’ll meet Tuesdays fr

For our 19th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Jessica Cox. Jessica is an Athleta Ambassador with me and we met thru the brand ambassadorship program. As soon as she talked about her non-profit, I was amazed by her passion and drive and I was really curious to know more about her work with the Bambini Yoga Project so I invited her on the podcast so we can talk about it, and so you guys can discover what it is, why it matters and eventually maybe so you can support this project as well!Before we get to today’s episode, I first wanted to take a minute to wish you a happy new year. As we start this new year the podcast also celebrates its first birthday so from the bottom of my heart I wanted to thank you all. I know how busy our lives are and I feel really grateful that you’ve chosen to spend your time with us.Athleta has been supporting this podcast since the beginning and I am beyond grateful for their help. The team at Athleta really stands behind their mission to ignite strong

For our 18th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Maris Degener. Maris is a yoga teacher, mental heath advocate, artist and writer. I met her on Instagram and we became friends. I loved the way she approached mental health and eating disorders, having my own history with these issues. A beautiful documentary was done on her and I went to watch it at the Mill Valley Film Festival. Has I laughed and cried, I thought she would made a great guest for the podcast.***As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a community of strong women who lift each other up, and is giving out a 75$ shop card! If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this article.ABOUT OUR GUEST​​ An East Bay Area native, Maris Degener is a yoga teacher, mental health advocate, writer, and UCSC student. Since becoming certifie

For our 17th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Susannah Freedman. Susannah is a San Francisco Based Yoga teacher and Teacher Trainer that has a deep knowledge of Yogic philosophy, and a Masters in Philosophy & Religion. I met her on Instagram and we became friends. I follow and love everything she does, and a few months ago, she published her first e-book called Suffer Less, Using Yogic Principles to Live a More peaceful Life. I got it right away. I mean, who doesn’t want to suffer less? Once I red it and saw how accessible and interesting it was, I reached out to Susannah, to invite her on the podcast!As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a community of strong women who lift each other up, and is giving out a 75$ shop card! If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this&n

For our 16th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Danni Pomplun. Danni is a San Francisco Based Yoga teacher and Teacher Trainer that uses his life story and his love of the practice to change the world around him. I met him at one of his workshops, and we further connected online. He’s passionate in his purpose and generous with his self and his teachings. On top of classes, workshops, retreats and YTT, he also host his own podcast, and was featured in Vice Magazine and in the book When to Jump. I’ve been wanting to have him on the show for a long time, so I can let you guys discover who he is and why he teaches.As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a community of strong women who lift each other up, and is giving out a 75$ shop card! If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this article.ABOU

For our 15th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Kelly DiNardo and Amy Pearce-Hayden. Kelly and Amy are the co-authors of an amazing book called Living the Sutras - A guide to Yoga wisdom beyond the mat. It "offers a modern, accessible and personal look at the ancient yogic philosophy and wisdom found in The Yoga Sutras". Even before the book was out, it was on my reading list and I pre-ordered it. I was so excited to dig in the Sutra from another perspective, and when I saw how simply it was presented and that it came with exercises to apply it to your daily life, I really wanted to sit down with the authors to talk about it!As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter our giveaway. This episode, Kelly and Amy are generously giving out a couple copies of their book! You have great chances to get to read their book for free if you write a review! If you're not sure how to do it

For our 14th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Sean Haleen. Sean is a celebrated San Francisco Bay Area Yoga Teacher who has been studying Hatha Yoga and philosophy for over 20 years. He leads alignment workshops all over the country as well as various teacher trainings. He leads with humor and precision and openly talks about the good, the bad and the ugly relating to the practice, the teachings and the business surrendering yoga. Today we sat down to talk about his yoga journey and how critical thinking is a important skill for teachers and practitioners.Thank you so much for listening and being part of our 14th episode! We have other great guests lined up for you so make sure to subscribe to the podcast where ever you listen! As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a comm

For our 13th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Julianne Aiello. Julianne is the founder of Outdoor Yoga SF. She leads a team of passionate teachers, and teaches yoga classes on the beach in San Francisco. They believe that gathering together in nature is a nourishing way to create a community and they do it very well! Today we sat down to talk about her yoga journey and how yoga and nature go so well together!****Thank you so much for listening and being part of our 13th episode! We have other great guests lined up for you so make sure to subscribe to the podcast where ever you listen! As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a community of strong women who lift each other up, and is giving out a 75$ shop card! If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this article.ABOU

For our 12th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Lauren Zoeller. Lauren is a yoga and meditation teacher, and she’s also a Whole Living Life Coach. We really connected on the importance of self-care when looking for growth in our life and on the idea of whole living. Today we sat down and talked about what does it means to be a life coach and how has yoga has influenced her on that path.As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a community of strong women who lift each other up, and is giving out a 75$ shop card! If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this article.ABOUT OUR GUEST​​Work-life Balance Coach. Yoga Instructor. Motivational Speaker. Lauren brings holistic balance to the busy professional. Her coaching practice equips individuals in finding work/life balance for increased happine

For our 11th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Kara-Leah Grant. Kara-Leah is an internationally-renowned yoga teacher, author and retreat leader. She is the founder of New Zealand’s most popular yoga website The Yoga Lunchbox, she’s also a contributor for Elephant Journal, and has published two books. Today we sat down to talk about her yoga practice and how it has influenced the way she teaches and leads her retreats.As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a community of strong women who lift each other up, and is giving out a 75$ shop card! If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this article.ABOUT OUR GUEST​​Kara-Leah is an internationally-renowned retreat leader, teacher and author. She has impacted millions of people over the last decade through her articles, books, videos and teaching.

For our 10th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Erika Trice. Erika is a yoga teacher and teacher trainer. She was one of my mentors when I studied to become a yoga teacher. I was amazed by her presence, and inspired by her passion. She always offers immersion that I’m interested in taking and when I saw that her next one was called The Refuge of Practice – A Weekend Yoga and Meditation Intensives, I thought the idea of refuge would be a great subject to cover on the podcast. As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a community of strong women who lift each other up, and is giving out a 75$ shop card! If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this article.ABOUT OUR GUEST​​Erika Trice is an E-RYT500 Yoga Alliance certified teacher and teacher trainer. She has been studying and teaching yoga f

For our 9th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Michelle Dortignac. Michelle is the founder of Unnata® Aerial Yoga. She’s been a yoga teacher for nearly 20 years and a professional aerial acrobatics performer for almost as long. Since 2006, she grew Unnata Aerial Yoga to a worldwide phenomenon with teachers in over 30 countries. Although she’s not the inventor of Aerial yoga in general, she contributed immensely to it’s popularly in the US. Today we sat down to talk about Aerial yoga in general and her journey through it all.As always, I really appreciate your support. So as you leave a review on iTunes or on your iPhone podcast app, you automatically enter a giveaway. Once more Athleta is supporting this podcast in their effort to ignite a community of strong women who lift each other up, and is giving out a 75$ shop card! If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this article.ABOUT OUR GUEST​​Michelle Dortignac is a life-long movement artist who founded Unnata® Aerial Yoga

For our 8th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Bizzie Gold. Bizzie is a Personal Development Expert and Serial Entrepreneur. From yoga teacher to past life regression therapist, with 5 successful brands, she helps people transform to create their best life. She also consults with individuals and companies to build heart-centered successful businesses. Although we’ve never met, I discovered her thru Buti Yoga as she’s the founder and creator. You might have heard of Buti, it’s a blend of tribal dance and primal movements, plyometrics, and vinyasa-style yoga. After one of my first tries, I wanted to do the teacher training. I wanted to sit down with her to talk about Buti Yoga and Women Empowerment in general.One last thing before we start, we had a little bit of issues with connection and sound quality, I apologize in advance, and I hope you can hear everything she says.GIVEAWAYTalking about a community just like Buti made of strong women who empower each other, this episode is supported by

For our 7th episode, I had the pleasure to sit down with Bethany Miller. Bethany is practicing psychologist and yoga studio owner. She owns and runs Sukha Yoga in Novato, where she created an great space oriented on healing and community. When I saw that she was organizing a trip to John Of God in Brazil, I immediately thought we had to sit down and chat. I really wanted to know about her experience...I would really appreciate you writing a review on iTunes to help other listeners find the podcast! To encourage you, Bethany is graciously offering a 30 minutes chakra healing session with her AND a 30 minutes crystal bed session at the studio, a value of 125$!  If you write a review on iTunes, you automatically enter the giveaway and get a chance to win. I'll announce the winners at the end of the next episode and on social media.If you're not sure how to leave a review, check this article.ABOUT OUR GUEST ​​Bethany opened Sukha Yoga to create a sanctuary in Nova